Forgotten to sort out Valentine's Day tomorrow? Can't be bothered and/or don't want to buy into the whole commercial nastiness of it all, rah rah rah? If you're so inclined, then you may like to check out these marvellously birdy Valentine's Day designs, courtesy of digital design studio Ollibird. Seriously minimal effort required, too. Thanks to Urban Mums for the super tip.
8 Comments Here's the latest in the 'tache/beardy trend: moustache hankies. Aren't they genius? I really love the gingham ones, but it's the kind of thing where you need the whole set.
Endless possibilities and fun to be had (imagine whipping one out on the Tube?). From Avril Loreti's Etsy shop.
Chocolat Debauve & Gallais Sulpice Debauve was a pharmacist-turned-chocolate maker for France's royal family, and he developed a range of chocolate coins for Marie Antoinette - which you can still buy today (Pistoles de Marie Antoinette).
This beautiful old shop has been selling chocolates for 200 years, and features marble columns and wood-panelled walls. Chocolat Debauve & Gallais 30 Rue des Saints-Peres Paris Métro: Saint-Germain des pres Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 9.30am-7pm
A.P.C. Surplus Bypass the tourists milling around the bottom of the hill leading up to the Sacre-Coer and walk around to Rue André Del Sarte , where you'll find A.P.C's outlet shop.
Well worth a visit if you're an A.P.C. fan, with 50 per cent discount off last season's collections. 20 Rue André Del SartE 75018 Paris Métro:Chateau Rouge
Creperie Josselin Walk past all the other creperies jostling for attention on this street and head straight to Josselin, considered to be the best of its kind in Paris.
It's relatively cheap and the buckwheat galettes are very filling, but you could also go simple and sweet with the house chocolate crepe. Creperie Josselin 67 Rue du Montparnasse 75014 Paris (14th Arr.) Tel. 01 43 35 26 68
Cafe de Flore Another Sarte and de Beauvoir haunt, another way to watch the world go by from plush red leather seating and splendid Art Deco surroundings.
Yes, it's a wee bit touristy, but the Club Sandwich is really good (although not particularly existential). Cafe de Flore 172 bd. Saint-Germain, Paris (6th Arr.) Métro: St-Germain-des-Prés
Shakespeare & Company I hadn't visited this wee gem of a bookshop for many years, so it was lovely to rediscover it and enjoy its rather authentic bohemian atmosphere.
It's always very busy, but there are lots of little nooks for reading (or, uh, napping), as well as a great view of Notre Dame from the upstairs windows. Shakespeare & Co 37 rue de la Bûcherie 75005 Paris Tel. 01 43 25 40 93 Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 10am-11pm Sunday 11am-11pm
Left Bank booksellers I usually don't pay much attention to the booksellers and their distinctive dark green boxes lining the Left Bank of the Seine, but I couldn't help lingering on a sunny Sunday afternoon.
Sitting alongside crappy print reproductions were some really incredible vintage magazines, although they are priced for tourists. Good for browsing, perhaps, rather than buying.
I spent a glorious weekend in Paris towards the end of last year. In the past I've tended to gravitate towards Le Marais, but this time around I explored more of Saint Germain and the Left Bank. It was by no means a comprehensive tour (I preferred lingering in cafes and strolling down sun-dappled boulevards) but I thought you might be interested in some of these wee gems...
Deyrolle Admittedly Deyrolle may not be everyone's cup of tea (in fact, you may find dead animals dead creepy), but I spent a good couple of hours completely submerged in the sheer beauty of this historic shop. Downstairs looks like any other bourgeois gardening/interiors store, with a rather lovely collection of enamel pots and handsome tools. In fact, the only hint of the spectacle that awaits upstairs is the odd taxidermied animal in the window, or the deer wearing an apron.
I had heard a little bit about Deyrolle's impressive collection of taxidermied animals, mounted insects, shells and minerals, but I was still completely gobsmacked as I discovered what can be best described as a Darwinian collection of natural history at the top of the stairs.
Row upon row of brightly coloured birds fill the dark-wooded Victorian cabinets, and the most beautiful butterflies are laid out in 19th century display cases. It's like walking into a natural history museum - except every bug, bear and butterfly is for sale.
I was fascinated by the humungous black rhinoceros beetles, stick insects and scorpions, but couldn't draw myself away from the glass trays of butterflies in astonishingly vivid hues of irridescent turquoise.
Choosing your bugs to mount is an exciting (and extremely satisfying) experience, akin to a child in a sweet shop, except you're pointing to exotic insects, not sherbet fountains. Your choice of butterflies and insects are mounted on a special display case, and prices for individual insects start at a few Euros. It's a wondrous place to browse, and kids will be equally fascinated. Deyrolle 46 rue du Bac 75007 Paris Tel. 01 42 22 30 07 Métro: Rue du Bac
Les Deux Magots
I know, it's a bit touristy these days but I couldn't pass up the
chance to have a latte in Sartre, de Beauvoir and Wilde's old hang-out.
Except I didn't have coffee, I went for the hot chocolate instead. And it was rich, luscious and quite simply The Best Hot Chocolate Ever. Nice old tiles, too. Les Deux Magots 6 Place Saint-Germain des Prés 75006 Paris Tel. 01 45 48 55 25 Métro: St-Germain-des-Prés
Pierre Herme
Pierre Herme is everything that Laduree is not: modern, minimalist and a wee bit sexy. With not a hint of gilt in sight. But we're still talking about macaroons here, and Monsieur Herme's are very lovely indeed with big bold colours and delicate flavours. A perfect take-away treat to enjoy in the nearby Jardin du Luxembourg. Pierre Herme 72 rue Bonaparte 75006 Paris Tel. 01 43 54 47 77 Métro: Saint-Sulpice Opening hours: Monday to Friday 10am-7pm Saturday 10am-7:30pm Sunday 10am-7pm
Here, dear reader, is me ambling along Columbia Road Flower Market on a recent wintry Sunday morning with my trusty market shopping bag.
I rather like it because it's big and sturdy, and features all manner of food-related London street signs, like Poultry, Bread Street and Ham Yard. And it's just £8 from The London Company.
In the meantime, if you're after a last minute Valentine's gift, consider the Great Ormond Street Hospital's Kiss it Better appeal. The London Company are donating £2 from every sale of their Street Speak "Love Lane" mug to the charity. From 20 January 20 until 20 May, you can visit www.thelondoncompany.net and enter code GOSH10 to receive free chocolates and guaranteed delivery of the mug.
For more information on Great Ormond Street Hospital and the Kiss it Better appeal, visitwww.gosh.org/kissitbetter.
The lacy scalloped edges lend themselves beautifully to a range of necklaces, rings, cuffs and headpieces, and you can just about picture Tatty's lovely girls reaching across the jam-smeared paper doily for the very last crumbs of the Victorian Sponge.
The heart-shaped ring is excellent value at £15, and would make a rather lovely Valentine's Day gift, but I'm also quite taken by the cupid's arrow brooch, £27. Gotta love those Tatty girls, they get it right all the time.
It has to be the cross-Atlantic collaboration of my dreams: Liberty and US mega-store Target have joined forces for the very first time to deliver those divine heritage prints to the masses.
Kitschy 60s-style Liberty prints are splashed across a range of super-affordable wares - from bicycles and piggy banks to stationery and flip flops. However, the strength of the collection really lies in the marvellous melamine kitchen and picnicware, like the cheery £25 cake stand and £5 cereal bowls, and the china tea pot is also rather lovely.
UK shoppers will be able to snap up pieces online from Liberty's website from 12 March, whilst Londoners can shop the collection instore at Liberty's Carnaby Street shop space from 29 March, which will coincide with an international ad campaign boasting photography by Tim Walker. (Can you just imagine? Dreamy colour-saturated flower-power Liberty prints emblazoned across London's buses and tube stations. Ohhhh...)
Loving this clever giant button card by new Wee Birdy sponsor Present & Correct, which makes a great alternative to the hearts-and-flowers Valentine's Day options. The card is debossed (ooh, tactile!) and the design is based on an old vintage button.
And for the perfect accompanying gift? Try a button brooch from Tatty Devine.
The most old-school of satchels are having a bit of a moment right now (hurrah!), with a plethora of options (and budgets) on offer. So I'm not surprised that A.P.C, purveyor of all things classic, simple and super-cool, have released these new French schoolgirl-style satchels for spring (310 Euros).
I especially the love this bag (above), which has a most pleasing hue of caramel tan. And it looks a bit soft and squishy - unlike the harder and more traditional school style. Le sigh...
9 Comments A relative newcomer to London's handmade scene, Make, Do, Mend runs craft workshops in London and the South East. The brainchild of Claire and Bee, who are both knitted textile designers and qualified craft teachers, the workshops cater for beginners, individuals and groups. And by the looks of things, they like to combine crafting with copious amounts of tea and cake (not a bad thing at all), setting up workshops in some of London's loveliest tea spots.
Here are their upcoming London workshops for February. You can book in by emailing Claire and Bee at makedomend@live.co.uk.
Saturday 6th February 2010 Beginner Knitting at High Tea of Highgate 10am-12pm £25 including all materials, tea and cake. We will be making a simple cowl which you will be well equipped for finishing at home. This short course will teach the very basics of knitting; casting on and off and knit and purl. Some beginners may go on beyond even this, especially if they have knitted before but are very rusty! Thursday 18th February 2010 Crocheted Granny Squares at Tea Rooms Stoke Newington 7-9pm £25 including all materials, hook, yummy cake and unlimited tea. Grannies aren't so square. They can be hexagonal, circular and 3-dimensional flowers. During the class you'll be able to choose from 2-3 patterns and be taught how to join your motifs to make an attractive 30cm square cushion with button closure. All materials will be provided. You will need some previous experience and know the basic crochet stitches, including chains, double and treble crochet.
Thursday 25th February Crochet for Beginners at The Gallery Cafe Bethnal Green 6-8pm £15 including all materials and hook which you can take away. We will be making a simple cowl or scarf which you will be well equipped for finishing at home. This short course will teach the very basics of crochet; chain, double and treble crochet. Some beginners may go on beyond even this, especially if they have crocheted before but are very rusty!